Egypt Top Army Commander al-Sisi Deposes Mursi, Cancels Constitution

Egypt’s top army commander Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Wednesday that the army has agreed with political forces to suspend the constitution and delegate the head of the constitutional court as an honorary president until early presidential elections are held.

Sisi added in a televised speech, attended by Azhar Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, head of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros ll and Dostour Party head Mohamed ElBaradei, on Wednesday that they have decided on early presidential elections.

The head Egypt’s constitutional court was granted the authority to issue constitutional decrees until a new president is elected.

The meeting also decided to form a national coalition government and form a committee of experts from all backgrounds to amend the constitution which has been temporarily suspended and asked the constitutional court to issue a new parliamentary elections law.

Sisi added that they also decided to release a new document that guarantees press freedom and form a committee for Egypt’s higher national interest grouping national figures.

Egypt’s top army commander Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Wednesday that the army has agreed with political forces to suspend the constitution and delegate the head of the constitutional court to manage the country until an early presidential elections is conducted.

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Brotherhood member: Pressure was exercised on Egypt’s Armed Forces

The Muslim Brotherhood leading member Essam al-Erian said that pressure was exercised on Egypt’s Armed Forces as all foreign media back the “counter-revolution”.

When most foreign media – CNN, BBC and France 24 – support the counter-revolution and are against the elected president, then we know that pressure exercised on the Armed Forces and its head is external, Erian wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.

The National Salvation Front, “Tamarod” (Rebel) movement and other movements are “just tools in the hands of others outside Egypt”, Erian, the Freedom and Justice Party’s deputy head, said.

Mursi is backed by the majority of the Egyptian people in the face of regional and international pressure, Erian stated.

BREAKING: Azhar Sheikh, Coptic Pope, ElBaradei, army and Tamarod to make statement

Azhar Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, head of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros ll and Dostour Party head Mohamed ElBaradei will address the nation shortly in the presence of military leaders and members of the “Tamarod” (Rebel) movement.

The statement will announce what the national figures have agreed on in their meeting with the army and a roadmap to exit the current political crisis.

The roadmap is expected to include future steps to manage Egypt’s democratic transition, including parliamentary and presidential elections.

Violent clashes between Mursi supporters, opponents in Kafr Sheikh

Dozens of President Mohamed Mursi’s supporters and opponents clashed in Kafr al-Sheikh governorate on Wednesday, an Aswat Masriya eyewitness reported.

Many are injured but there are no reports of the exact number, the eyewitness added.

The two sides attacked each other with birdshot and stones on many of the governorate’s streets.

Spokesman denies army to attack Mursi supporters

Egypt’s official army spokesman has denied that the forces now deployed to the Rabaa al-Adaweya area will attack President Mohamed Mursi’s supporters who have rallied there since Friday.

Army spokesman Ahmed Aly added in a post on his Twitter account on Wednesday that “these rumors were spread to achieve suspicious political gains”.

He insisted that the army will serve and protect all Egyptians.

Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gehad El-Haddad told CNN earlier that the forces were deployed there to attack the pro-Mursi protesters.